ALMA, Mich.-- The Trine men's lacrosse team was defeated by Alma 9-5 in the MIAA Semifinals Thursday evening at Bahlke Field.
The Scots scored the first four goals of the contest and six of the first seven to put the Thunder in a hole they couldn't climb out of. Austen Irrer scored two goals and notched an assist, while Daniel Buchy and Jake Ellens each scored twice to lead the Alma attack. Chris Ward (Oak Lawn, Ill. / St. Rita) scored his 100th career goal and added an assist in his final game for the Thunder. Trine concludes the year 8-6.
Nick Maher (DeWitt, Mich. / DeWitt), Mitch Leahey (Lake Orion, Mich. / Lake Orion), Jordan Lelito (West Chicago, Ill. / West Chicago) and Neil Orr (Lombard, Ill. / Montini Catholic) added goals for the Thunder. Paul Carlquist (Downers Grove, Ill. / Downers Grove South) notched an assist.
Colin O'Keefe (Gurnee, Ill. / Warren Township) caused a team-high three turnovers to pace Trine's defensive effort. Travis Lores (Kildeer, Ill. / Lake Zurich) made seven saves in net.
The Scots forced the Thunder into 22 turnovers while committing just 10 themselves. Alma defenders were credited with 14 caused turnovers. Ben Luzar led the way with five caused turnovers, while Mitch Adams forced three miscues. Al Lesperance made eight saves in net for the Scots.
Ellens scored twice, while Buchy and Irrer each added tallies to pace Alma to a 4-0 lead with 6:26 to go in the first quarter. Orr got the Thunder on the board, scoring off a pass from Carlquist, but Irrer answered with another goal to make the score 5-1 after a quarter.
Tanner Diement scored 10 seconds into the second quarter to give the Scots a five-goal advantage. Ward answered just over a minute later with his 100th career tally. The goal was the senior's 21st of the season as he completed a third-consecutive All-MIAA First Team campaign.
The Scots pushed the score to 8-2 with a pair of goals to close the half. Leahey scored an unassisted tally midway through the third quarter to account for the only scoring during that stanza. Maher and Lelito scored man-up goals in the fourth quarter, but the Thunder couldn't close the deficit any tighter than four goals the rest of the way. Maher wrapped up the season as Trine's leading scorer with 28 goals and 10 assists.
Alma advances to the MIAA Championship game Saturday night to face Albion.
Ward, Lores, Jordan Backer (Centerville, Ohio / Centerville), Maher, O'Keefe and Colin Lelito (West Chicago, Ill. / West Chicago) were named to the All-MIAA Men's Lacrosse Team today. More information on the All-MIAA honors can be found HERE.
